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Eucharis (plant)
Encyclopedia
Eucharis is a genus of about 15-20 species of monocotyledon
ous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae
, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to Central America
and South America
from Guatemala
south to Bolivia
.
ous plant with a bulb 2-6 cm diameter. The broad stalked leaves
are 20-55 cm long and 10-20 cm broad. The large showy white flower
s are borne in an umbel
of three to ten on an erect scape 40-80 cm long. The flowers resemble daffodil flowers in having a prominent central cup or corona, which is sometimes tinged with green.
basin and adjacent lower slopes of the eastern Andes
. They are rain forest geophytes adapted to the low light conditions of the rain forest understory.
and the hybrid Eucharis x grandiflora are the best-known and most generally cultivated species.
It is propagated by removing the offsets, which may be done in spring, potting them singly in 15 cm pots. It requires good loam
y soil, with enough sand
to keep the compost open, and should have a good supply of water. A temperature of 18° to 20°C during the night, and rising to 25°C in the day. During summer growth is to be encouraged by repotting, but the plants should afterwards be slightly rested by removal to a night temperature of about 15°C, water being withheld for a time, though they must not be left dry for too long, the plant being an evergreen
. By the turn of the year they may again have more heat and more water, and this will probably induce them to flower.
With a stock of the smaller plants to start them in succession, it is possible to have plants in flower all the year round.
A hybrid has been raised between Eucharis and the allied genus Urceolina, given the hybrid name X Urceocharis.
Monocotyledon
Monocotyledons, also known as monocots, are one of two major groups of flowering plants that are traditionally recognized, the other being dicotyledons, or dicots. Monocot seedlings typically have one cotyledon , in contrast to the two cotyledons typical of dicots...
ous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae
Amaryllidaceae
Amaryllidoideae is the subfamily of flowering plants that takes its name from the genus Amaryllis. It is part of the family Amaryllidaceae, in order Asparagales...
, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
from Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
south to Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
Description
It is a bulbBulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
ous plant with a bulb 2-6 cm diameter. The broad stalked leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are 20-55 cm long and 10-20 cm broad. The large showy white flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are borne in an umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
of three to ten on an erect scape 40-80 cm long. The flowers resemble daffodil flowers in having a prominent central cup or corona, which is sometimes tinged with green.
Distribution and habitat
Members of this genus are distributed from Guatemala to Bolivia, chiefly in the western AmazonAmazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
basin and adjacent lower slopes of the eastern Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
. They are rain forest geophytes adapted to the low light conditions of the rain forest understory.
Cultivation and uses
Eucharis amazonicaEucharis amazonica
Eucharis amazonica is a species of monocotyledonous plants which are native to Central America and Ecuador.- References :* * * Alan W. Meerow and Bijan Dehgan, "Re-Establishment and Lectotypification of Eucharis amazonica Linden ex Planchon ", Taxon, Vol. 33, No. 3 , pp...
and the hybrid Eucharis x grandiflora are the best-known and most generally cultivated species.
It is propagated by removing the offsets, which may be done in spring, potting them singly in 15 cm pots. It requires good loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
y soil, with enough sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
to keep the compost open, and should have a good supply of water. A temperature of 18° to 20°C during the night, and rising to 25°C in the day. During summer growth is to be encouraged by repotting, but the plants should afterwards be slightly rested by removal to a night temperature of about 15°C, water being withheld for a time, though they must not be left dry for too long, the plant being an evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
. By the turn of the year they may again have more heat and more water, and this will probably induce them to flower.
With a stock of the smaller plants to start them in succession, it is possible to have plants in flower all the year round.
A hybrid has been raised between Eucharis and the allied genus Urceolina, given the hybrid name X Urceocharis.